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| MLS Major League Soccer |
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| US soccer official websites |
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| A GAP TO BE FILLED BETWEEN THE NATIONAL TEAM AND AMATEUR SOCCER In the US, "football" means what we call "American Football" - "soccer" ("european" soccer as in football asSOCiation) never truly made it against the 4 majors : basket-ball, baseball, ice hockey and off course football, each one backed by a strong pro league : the NBA, the MLB, the NHL and the NFL. Yet, the US national squad regularily qualifies for World Cup final tournaments, reaching the semis as early as at the first edition (1930) and the quarter finals in 2002, and even defeating England in 1950. Moreover, the US are a women's soccer superpower : World and Olympic Champions, best players (Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm...). And at the bottom of the pyramid, soccer is getting more popular by the day. You can make it without being 6 feet tall or running the 100 m dash in less than 10 secs, and the parents feel more comfortable with a sport (relatively) spared by violence and drugs. "Soccer moms" dropping their kids from their familial cars became a key marketing target during the Clinton era. Soccer radiates beyond the latino and european minorities and the evolution seems a durable one. The problems lies at the heart of sport business : in order to make it, soccer must rely on a powerful pro league. That's the only way to exist in the continent-country where the MLB finals are called "World Series" and the NBA Champs dub themselves "World Champions". But where the NBA, MLB and NFL offer stratospheric wages the soccer building's "social lift" cannot help you scap the skies, and in the US more than anywhere else, the success of a sport is measured with TV ratings and big bucks. |
| MLS titles (MLS Cup) |
| CHAMPION 1996 DC United 1997 DC United 1998 Chicago Fire 1999 DC United 2000 Kansas City Wizards 2001 San Jose Earthq. 2002 Los Angeles Galaxy 2003 San Jose Earthq. 2004 DC United 2005 Los Angeles Galaxy 2006 Houston Dynamo |
| CHICAGO FIRE (Illinois) MLS since 1998 website : chicago.fire.mlsnet.com Stadium : will move from Soldier Field (Chicago Bears - NFL), to their own stadium in 2006 (Bridgeview Stadium) MLS Cup 1998 MLS Cup finalist 2000, 2003 US Open Cup 2003, 2006 US Open Cup finalist 2004 |
| THE NASL FAILURE AND THE WORLD CUP '94 OPPORTUNITY Sport business isn't a new phenomenon in the US (Spalding initiated it about one century ago) but in the late 60s, it's accelerating again. Positions are taken in the medias and soccer must catch this train, especially since England's 1966 World Cup victory brings attention to the sport in New England. Two competing leagues are set up in 1967 : the United Soccer Association receives the benediction of FIFA mais the NPSL (North Professional Soccer League) clinches the contract with a top network, CBS. But the audience turns out to be miserable, and both leagues merge in 1968 to found the NASL (North American Soccer League). With such enthousiastic investors as Lamar Hunt and such prestigious sponsors as Henry Kissinger, the NASL manages to lure the biggest names of the sport : Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff, Gert Muller, George Best, Eusebio, Bobby Moore... Failure cannot happen under such conditions. The NASL decides to recycle north american major league receipes : showtime, cheerleaders and a "franchises" system where the clubs are first of all corporations likely to move anytime to another city in order to follow their market. The sports risk is reduced to the minimum : neither relegation nor promotion, the league remains composed of the same teams whatever their results, the cast and number can change in case of league expansions (every member accepting the new member) or bankrupcies. The criteria remain financial and not related to sport. The biggest "brands" are generously invited to end their carreers in the newborn league to evangelize North America and the New York Cosmos becomes a galaxy of stars with no match in the universe. These "galacticos" fail partly because E.T. didn't land on the most friendly of sites. Only a small minority of North Americans practice and understand soccer and major TV networks cannot afford broadcasting prime time an exotic sport totally unfit for the zapper-customer : two long 45 minute sequences without any time-out ; the advertiser's nightmare. On the other hand, the indoor soccer competition created by the NASL to animate the winter season proved a sustainable business model. After the NASL break up in 1984, the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) took over before changing names for Major Soccer League (MSL)... and imploding into two competing leagues in 1992. All stars likely to brighten up these arenas long gone, indoor soccer somehow sustained an illusion of soccer during the middle age between the NASL and the 1994 World Cup. If the NASL failure cooled down the biggest investors, the apostles of soccer never gave up and clinched the organization of the 1994 World Cup. Joao Havelange's FIFA happily gives the US a second chance : succeeding in the first market of Olympism would mean a final victory over their only rival, Juan Antonio Samaranch's IOC. This time, the whole barnum won't be mobilized. Cable TV will do - since the seventies, they have become strong enough and for a Time Warner, a success of soccer in the US could facilitate the diffusion in Europe of its ESPN brand. Time to market is carefuly planned too : the new league, Major League Soccer (MLS). will be launched after the World Cup and will surf on its success. The best US players will be drafted by the selection which will be their club during the transition period. At the heart of this project, Alan I. Rothenberg will lead both the World Cup and the future MLS programs. Unfortunately, and in a rather symbolic way, the first North American World Cup starts with the tragicomical OJ Simpson episode during the inauguration game and ends up with the first goalless final in History. This is not a big failure (ie attendance was fine) but certainly not the huge success expected. Moreover, MLS is delayed and will only start with the 1996 season, with rather reasonable ambitions. Time for durable development. |
| MLS : AN AMERICAN LEAGUE, BUT NOT YET MAJOR Following the major league tradition, the MLS has a regular season followed by play-offs, with an "all star game" to animate mid season and a "big game" to wrap it up - in this case, the MSL Cup. The reason why the league is splitted into two "conferences" (East and West) isn't only geographical : since there is no relegation, more classic championships would make the end of seasons look dull to the bulk of the teams in a more classical championship system. With conferences, more teams are involved in post-season berth. Just like in Europe, the elite (including A-League teams) takes part to an open cup organized by the federation (US Soccer). The US Open Cup was created in 1914, earlier than such competitions as the Coupe de France). In 1999, the trophy was named after Lamar Hunt without waiting for this great promoter of sports to pass. NFL made Hunt famous but this man is a member of both the tennis and national soccer Hall Of Fames. Owner of NASL's Dallas Tornado, he created two MLS teams (Kansas City Wizards and Columbus Crew) before purchasing a third one (Dallas Burn, now known as FC Dallas). The regular season spans from april till october with conference semis end of october, conference finals early november and the big game mid-november. MLS' calendar thus competes with MLB's but waits for the World Series to be played (october) before broadcasting its own MLS Cup. This also makes possible the usage of then empty NFL stadia. MLS even manages to compete with big leagues as far as statistics are concerned, with a flock of totals, percentages, averages and streaks : goal and assist leaders (with specific rankings for game winning goals and assists, or "primary" and "secondary" assists), shots and shots on goal, corner kicks, fouls committed and suffered, red and yellow cards, saves, "catches & punches", shutouts... Key statistic if any : attendance ins't precisely soaring and remains flat ("highest" : Los Angeles Galaxy with 23,000 - lowest : Dallas with 10,000) : 1996 : 2,785,001 spectators (average 17,406) 1997 : 2,339,019 (14,619) 1998 : 2,747,897 (14,312) 1999 : 2,742,102 (14,282) 2000 : 2,641,085 (13,756) 2001 : 2,363,859 (14,961) 2002 : 2,215,019 (15,822) 2003 : 2,234,747 (14,898) 2004 : 2,333,797 (15,559) Entertained by a few sparks and even fewer stars (ie Carlos Valderrama), the MLS has been surviving for about 10 years without really shining. The Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) didn't make it, imploding after the 2003 season and the retirement of the golden generation of the Mia Hamms, Julie Foudys or Joy Fawcetts, sending such foreign stars as Marinette Pichon back home after the collapse. France's Youri Djorkaeff went the other way : the World Champion joined the MetroStars for the 2005 season, and the MLS seems to follow a positive trend : - expansion time ! 10 teams in 1996, 12 in 1998 (Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion joining), 10 again in 2001 (Florida's Miami Fusion and Tampa Bay Mutiny quitting), and now back to 12 in 2005 with two exciting developments : a second club for L.A. (the market is big enough and derbies are what a good league needs), and moreover a new franchise in Salt Lake City with a stadium ideally located for the MLS to radiate beyond Utah towards Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Wyoming. - devotion time ! the teams are building their own stadia devoted to soccer. Lamar Hunt showed the way with Columbus in 1999 and Dallas in 2005, the Chicago Fire and the Mets may follow suit in 2006, and L.A. has been enjoying a soccer stadium since 2004, home to the Los Angeles Galaxy, the CD Chivas USA and the national teams |
| WHAT MLS NEEDS - to maintain a steady growth and deepen its roots with a few sparks to increase loyalty, attendance and audience - to leverage on the growing up of the "soccer mom generation" : young players becoming prescriptors, bringing families to the stadia, and for the best ones powerful locomotives for the MLS and the national teams to bring them at a level worthy of a 300 million inhabitant country where sport is king - to expand the league further but at a reasonable pace and if possible in important cities lacking a major league team. Lamar Hunt's Columbus is the example to follow and MLS must surf on demographic trends just like for Salt Lake City. - to make room for new leaders and managers. A new generation of former players is showing motivation (ie Jurgen Klinsmann), and the US must convince great technicians (Matthaus was a great player but isn't a great coach yet). - on a less positive side, to take profit from other big leagues' weaknesses (ie strikes for NHL, doping for MLB) or neighboring countries (ie South American leagues) - to improve the quality of the game in order to attract bigger names sooner. Structures are not strong enough to bet on the next generations but the MLS could envision a new positionning between soccer's leading continents (Europe and South America) before a third one takes over (Asia). Stephane MOT 2004 |
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| COLUMBUS CREW (Ohio) MLS since 1996 website : columbus.crew.mlsnet.com Stadium : Crew Stadium (the first devoted to MLS in 1999) |
| DC UNITED (District of Columbia) MLS since 1996 website : dcunited.mlsnet.com Stadium : RFK Stadium (Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium - NFL's Washington Redskins & MLB's Washington Senators) MLS Cup 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004 MLS Cup finalist 1998 |
| KANSAS CITY WIZARDS (Missouri) MLS since 1996 Initially Kansas City Wiz, in the Western Conference. website : kc.wizards.mlsnet.com Stadium : Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Chiefs - NFL) MLS Cup 2000 MLS Cup finalist 2004 US Open Cup 2004 |
| 1) Eastern Conference |
| RED BULL NEW YORK (New York - New Jersey) MLS since 1996 Initially New York New Jersey MetroStars, MetroStars website : redbull.newyork.mlsnet.com Stadium : Giant Stadium (New York Giants - NFL - capacity 80,242) US Open Cup finalist 2003 |
| NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (Boston, Massachussets) MLS since 1996 website : www.revolutionsoccer.net Stadium : Gilette Stadium (New England Patriots - NFL) MLS Cup finalist 2002, 2005, 2006 |
| CLUB DEPORTIVO CHIVAS USA (Los Angeles, California) MLS since 2005 website : www.cdchivasusa.com Stadium : Home Depot Center (a specific soccer stadium in the center) |
| 2) Western Conference |
| COLORADO RAPIDS (Denver, Colorado) MLS since 1996 website : www.coloradorapids.com Stadium : Invesco Field at Mile High (Denver Broncos - NFL) MLS Cup finalist 1997 |
| FC DALLAS (Texas) MLS since 1996 Initially Dallas Burn ('till 2004) website : fc.dallas.mlsnet.com Stadium : Frisco Soccer & Entertainment Center (FSEC) US Open Cup finalist 2005 |
| LOS ANGELES GALAXY (Los Angeles, California) MLS since 1996 website : la.galaxy.mslnet.com Stadium : Home Depot Center (same as CD Chivas USA) MLS Cup 2002, 2005 MLS Cup Finalist 1996, 1999, 2001 US Open Cup 2005 US Open Cup finalist 2006 |
| REAL SALT LAKE (Utah) MLS since 2005 website : real.saltlake.mslnet.com Stadium : Rice-Eccles Stadium (University of Utah) |
| HOUSTON DYNAMOS (Texas) MLS since 1996 Formerly San Jose Clash ('till 1999) and San Jose Earthquakes ('till 2005) site : houston.mslnet.com Stadium : Robertson Stadium, University of Houston - 32,000 seats) MLS Cup 2001, 2003, 2006 |
| Former MLS franchises |
| TAMPA BAY MUTINY (Florida) MLS from 1996 to 2001 |
| MIAMI FUSION (Florida) MLS from 1998 to 2001 MLS Cup final 2000 |
| MLS cup FINALIST Los Angeles Galaxy Colorado Rapids DC United Los Angeles Galaxy Chicago Fire Los Angeles Galaxy New England Revolution Chicago Fire Kansas City Wizards New England Revolution New England Revolution |
| SCORE 3-2 ot 2-1 2-0 2-0 1-0 2-1 ot 1-0 ot 4-2 3-2 1-0 ot 1-1 ot 4-3p |
| 2003 Carlos Ruiz 2004 Amado Guevara 2005 Taylor Twellman 2006 Christian Gomez |
| BEST SCORERS (PTS = GOALS + ASSISTS) 1996 Roy Lassiter (TB) - 58 1997 Preki (KC) - 41 1998 Stern John (CLB) - 57 1999 Jason Kreis (DAL) - 51 2000 Mamadou Diallo (TB) - 56 2001 Alex Pineda Chacon (MIA) - 47 2002 Taylor Twellman (NE) - 52 2003 Preki (KC) - 41 2004 Amado Guevara (MET) Pat Noonan (NE) - 30 2005 Taylor Twellman (NE) - 24 2006 Jeff Cunningham (RSL) - 27 |
| GOAL LEADERS 1996 Roy Lassiter (TB) - 27 1997 Jaime Moreno (DC) - 16 1998 Stern John (CLB) - 26 1999 Stern John (CLB) - 18 2000 Mamadou Diallo (TB) - 26 2001 Alex Pineda Chacon (MIA) - 19 2002 Carlos Ruiz (LA) - 24 2003 Carlos Ruiz (LA) Taylor Twellman (NE) - 15 2004 Brian Ching (SJ) Eddie Johnson (DAL) - 12 2005 Taylor Twellman (NER) - 17 2006 Jeff Cunningham (RSL) - 16 |
| ASSIST LEADERS 1996 Marco Etcheverry (DC) - 19 1997 Carlos Valderrama (TB) - 19 1998 Marco Etcheverry (DC) - 19 1999 Steve Ralston (CLB) - 18 2000 Carlos Valderrama (TB) - 26 2001 Diego Serna (MIA) - 15 2002 Steve Ralston (NE) - 19 2003 Preki (KC) - 17 2004 Jaime Moreno (DC) - 14 2005 Dwaine de Rosario (SJ) - 13 2006 Terry Cooke (COL) - 12 |
| Former leagues |
| NASL CHAMPIONS (1968-1984) 1968 Atlanta Chiefs 1969 Kansas City Spurs 1970 Rochester Lancers 1971 Dallas Tornado 1972 New York Cosmos 1973 Philadelphia Atoms 1974 Los Angeles Aztecs 1975 Tampa Bay Rowdies 1976 Toronto Metros-Croatia 1977 New York Cosmos 1978 New York Cosmos 1979 Vancouver Whitecaps 1980 New York Cosmos 1981 Chicago Sting 1982 New York Cosmos 1983 Tulsa Roughnecks 1984 Chicago Sting |
| Champion 1978-79 New York Arrows 1979-80 New York Arrows 1980-81 New York Arrows 1981-82 New York Arrows 1982-83 San Diego Sockers 1983-84 Baltimore Blast 1984-85 San Diego Sockers 1985-86 San Diego Sockers 1986-87 Dallas Sidekicks 1987-88 San Diego Sockers 1988-89 San Diego Sockers 1989-90 San Diego Sockers 1990-91 San Diego Sockers 1991-92 San Diego Sockers |
| MISL - MSL (1978-1992) |
| Finalist Philadelphia Fever Houston Summit Saint Louis Steamers Saint Louis Steamers Baltimore Blast Saint Louis Steamers Baltimore Blast Minnesota Strickers Tacoma Stars Cleveland Force Baltimore Blast Baltimore Blast Cleveland Crunch Dallas Sidekicks |
| Score 2-0 (1) 7-4 (2) 6-5 (2) 3-2 (3) 3-2 (3) 4-1 (3) 4-1 (3) 4-3 (4) 4-3 (4) 4-0 (4) 4-3 (4) 4-2 (4) 4-2 (4) 4-2 (4) |
| NB : aggregate scores - 3 games (1), 1 game (2), 5 games (3) or 7 games (4). |
| Copyright & copy 2003-2006 - Stephane MOT. All rights reserved. Contact me |
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| USL (United Soccer Leagues) |
| If the USL (United Soccer Leagues) manage the leagues linked to the national federation (US Soccer), they host quite a few Canadian teams. Youth amateur leagues are designed to accelerate the making of future pro and national team players, the building of a stronger elite. The women's amateur league maintains a fair level of competition but not to be compared to the much regretted WUSA. 2 pro leagues : USL-1 (USL First Division) USL-2 (USL Second Division) Amateur leagues : PDL (Premier Development League) : summer league for the under-23 - an ideal transition between the University and pro leagues. W-League : the main women's league since the failure of the WUSA (pro league) Super Y-League : nursing the next gen olympic and national teams. |
| USL-1 TEAMS |
| Atlanta Silverbacks Charleston Battery Minnesota Thunder Montreal Impact Portland Timbers Puerto Rico Islanders Richmond Kickers (US Cup 1V) Rochester Raging Rhinos (US Cup 1V1F) Seattle Sounders Toronto Lynx Vancouver Whitecaps Virginia Beach Mariners |
| USL-2 TEAMS |
| Charlotte Eagles Cincinnati Kings Harrisburg City Islanders Long Island Rough Riders New Hampshire Phantoms Northern Virginia Royals Pittsburgh Riverhounds Western Mass Pioneers Wilmington Hammerheads |
| W-LEAGUE TEAMS |
| EASTERN CONFERENCE Northeast Division Boston Renegades Long Island Lady Riders New Hampshire Lady Phantoms New Jersey Wildcats New York Magic South Jersey Banshees Western Mass Lady Pioneers Northern Division Ottawa Fury Women Rochester Ravens Sudbury Canadians Toronto Lady Lynx Vermont Lady Voltage |
| CENTRAL CONFERENCE Atlantic Division Atlanta Silverbacks Women Bradenton Athletics Carolina Dynamo Women Central Florida Krush Charlotte Lady Eagles Hampton Roads Piranhas Northern Virginia Majestics Richmond Kickers Destiny Midwest Division Chicago Gaels Cincinnati Ladyhawks Cleveland International Women Detroit Jaguars Fort Wayne Fever Women London Gryphons West Michigan |
| WESTERN CONFERENCE Arizona Heatwave Denver Lady Cougars Fort Collins Force Mile High Mustangs San Diego Gauchos Women Seattle Sounders Women Vancouver Whitecaps Women |
| PDL TEAMS |
| CENTRAL CONFERENCE Great Lakes Division Chicago Fire Premier Cleveland Internationals Fort Wayne Fever Indiana Invaders Kalamazoo Kingdom Michigan Bucks Toledo Slayers West Michigan Edge Heartland Division Boulder Rapids Reserve Colorado Springs Blizzard Des Moines Menace Kansas City Brass Sioux Falls SpitFire Springfield Storm Thunder Bay Chill |
| EASTERN CONFERENCE Mid Atlantic Division Carolina Dynamo Georgia Raleigh CASL Elite Richmond Kickers Future West Virginia Chaos Williamsburg Legacy Northeast Division Albany Brooklyn Knights Cape Cod Crusaders Ocean City Barons Ottawa Fury Reading Rage Rhode Island Stingrays Vermont Voltage Westchester Flames |
| SOUTHERN CONFERENCE Mid South Division Austin Lightning DFW Tornados El Paso Patriots Laredo Heat Memphis Express Nashville Metros New Orleans Shell Shockers Southeast Division Ajax Orlando Prospects Bradenton Academics Central Florida Kraze Cocoa Expos Palm Beach Pumas |
| WESTERN CONFERENCE Northwest Division Abbotsford Rangers Cascade Surge Spokane Shadow Yakima Reds Southwest Division Bakersfield Brigade BYU Cougars California Gold Fresno Fuego Nevada Wonders Orange County Blue Star San Diego Gauchos Southern California Seahorses |
| Can pro women's soccer be brought back to life ? |
| WPSL The amateur Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) was created before the WUSA in 1998, with the benediction of the USASA (US Adult Soccer Association) and the USSF (US Soccer Federation). Sign of the times : the sponsors behind the first finalists tell a lot about the rise of "soccer moms" and "net companies" : 2005 FC Indiana California Storm 2004 California Storm New England Mutiny 2003 Utah Spiders California Storm 2002 California Storm Utah Spiders 2001 Ajax of SoCal San Diego WFC 2000 San Diego WFC California Storm 1999 California Storm San Diego Auto Trader 1998 Silicon Valley Red Devils Auto Trader Select |
| All there is to know about MLS, USL, WUSA, WPSL, NASL... The history and awards, the teams and links. Stephane MOT |
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| MLS - a short history (till 2004) |
| US Open Cup winners |
| Before pro league participation (1914-1994) 1914 Brooklyn Field Club (Brooklyn, NY) 1915 Bethlehem Steel FC (Bethlehem, PA) 1916 Bethlehem Steel FC (Bethlehem, PA) 1917 Fall River Rovers (Fall River, MA) 1918 Bethlehem Steel FC (Bethlehem, PA) 1919 Bethlehem Steel FC (Bethlehem, PA) 1920 Ben Miller FC (Saint Louis, MO) 1921 Robbins Dry Dock FC (Brooklyn, NY) 1922 Scullin Steel FC (Saint Louis, MO) 1923 Paterson FC (Paterson, NJ) 1924 Fall River FC (Fall River, MA) 1925 Shawsheen FC (Andover, MA) 1926 Bethlehem Steel FC (Bethlehem, PA) 1927 Fall River FC (Fall River, MA) 1928 New York National SC (New York, NY) 1929 Hakoa All Star SC (New York, NY) 1930 Fall River FC (Fall River, MA) 1931 Fall River FC (Fall River, MA) 1932 New Bedford FC (New Bedford, MA) 1933 Stix, Baer and Fuller FC (Saint Louis, MO) 1934 Stix, Baer and Fuller FC (Saint Louis, MO) 1935 Central Breweries FC (Saint Louis, MO) 1936 German-Americans (Philadelphia, PA) 1937 New York American FC (New York, NY) 1938 Chicago Sparta A.B.A. (Chicago, IL) 1939 Saint Mary's Celtic SC (Brooklyn, NY) 1940 (2 vainqueurs) Baltimore SC (Baltimore, MD) Chicago Sparta A.B.A. (Chicago, IL) 1941 Pawtucket FC (Pawtucket, RI) 1942 Gallatin SC (Gallatin, PA) 1943 Brooklyn Hispano FC (Brooklyn, NY) 1944 Brooklyn Hispano FC (Brooklyn, NY) 1945 Brookhattan FC (New York, NY) 1946 Chicago Viking FC (Chicago, IL) 1947 Ponta Delgada SC (Fall River, MA) 1948 Simpkins-Ford SC (Saint Louis, MO) 1949 Morgan SC (Morgan, PA) 1950 Simpkins-Ford SC (Saint Louis, MO) 1951 German Hungarian SC (New York, NY) 1952 Harmarville SC (Harmarville, PA) 1953 Falcons SC (Chicago, IL) 1954 New York Americans (New York, NY) 1955 Eintracht Sport Club (New York, NY) 1956 Harmarville SC (Harmarville, PA) 1957 Kutis SC (Saint Louis, MO) 1958 Los Angeles Kickers (Los Angeles, CA) 1959 McIlvaine Canvasbacks (Los Angeles, CA) 1960 Ukrainian Nationals (Philadelphia, PA) 1961 Ukrainian Nationals (Philadelphia, PA) 1962 New York Hungaria (New York, NY) 1963 Ukrainian Nationals (Philadelphia, PA) 1964 Los Angeles Kickers (Los Angeles, CA) 1965 New York Ukrainians (New York, NY) 1966 Ukrainian Nationals (Philadelphia, PA) 1967 Greek American AA (New York, NY) 1968 Greek American AA (New York, NY) 1969 Greek American AA (New York, NY) 1970 Elizabeth SC (Union, NJ) 1971 Hota SC (New York, NY) 1972 Elizabeth SC (Union, NJ) 1973 Maccabee SC (Los Angeles, CA) 1974 Greek American AA (New York, NY) 1975 Maccabee SC (Los Angeles, CA) 1976 San Francisco AC (San Francisco, CA) 1977 Maccabee SC (Los Angeles, CA) 1978 Maccabee SC (Los Angeles, CA) 1979 Brooklyn Dodgers SC (Brooklyn, NY) 1980 New York Pancyprian Freedoms (New York, NY) 1981 Maccabee SC (Los Angeles, CA) 1982 New York Pancyprian Freedoms (New York, NY) 1983 New York Pancyprian Freedoms (New York, NY) 1984 A.O. Krete (New York, NY) 1985 Greek American AC (San Francisco, CA) 1986 Kutis SC (Saint Louis, MO) 1987 Club Espana (Washington, DC) 1988 Busch SC (Saint Louis, MO) 1989 H.R.C. Kickers (Saint Petersburg, FL) 1990 A.A.C. Eagles (Chicago, IL) 1991 Brooklyn Italian SC (Brooklyn, NY) 1992 San Jose Oaks (San Jose, CA) 1993 C.D. Mexico (San Francisco, CA) 1994 Greek American AC (San Francisco, CA) |
| Since the participation of pro league teams (1995-2005) 1995 Richmond Kickers *** 1-1 o.t.. (4-2 pk) El Paso Patriots **** 1996 DC United * 3-0 Rochester Raging Rhinos ** 1997 Dallas Burn * 0-0 o.t. (5-3 pk) DC United * 1998 Chicago Fire * 2-1 o.t. Columbus Crew * 1999 Rochester Raging Rhinos ** 2-0 Colorado Rapids * 2000 Chicago Fire * 2-1 Miami Fusion * 2001 Los Angeles Galaxy * 2-1 o.t. New England Revolution * 2002 Columbus Crew * 1-0 Los Angeles Galaxy * 2003 Chicago Fire* 1-0 NY/NJ MetroStars* 2004 Kansas City Wizards* 1-0 o.t. Chicago Fire* 2005 Los Angeles Galaxy* 1-0 FC Dallas* 2006 Chicago Fire* 3-1 Los Angeles Galaxy* * MLS ** A-League *** PDL **** Pro League |
| WUSA (2001-2003) The much regretted WUSA was litterally supported by the golden generation of the 1999 World Champions - a dream league between two World Cups. The Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) was founded by 20 players from the national team : along with the World's best players (then Michell Akers and since then Mia Hamm), Brandi Chastain, Tracy Ducar, Lorrie Fair, Joy Fawcett, Danielle Fotopoulos, Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly, Shannon McMillan, Tiffeny Milbrett, Carla Overbeck, Cindy Parlow, Christie Pearce, Tiffany Roberts, Briana Scurry, Kate Sobrero, Tisha Venturini, Saskia Webber, Sara Whalen. The pioneers looked by themselves for other players and for investors (while keeping shares of the WUSA), drafting stars from all over the world (up to 4 per roster) in a 8 team league crowned by the Founder's Cup. The 3rd season ended on September the 15th, 2003 for the World Cup but WUSA hasn't resumed since. The Founders Cup's 3 winners : Champion Vice-Champion Score 2001 Bay Area CyberRays Atlanta Beat 3-3 o.t. (4-2 pk) 2002 Carolina Courage Washington Freedom 3-2 2003 Washington Freedom Atlanta Beat 2-1 o.t. Most players switched to the W-League or the WPSL, or back to their home leagues for the foreign stars. A few diehards animated 2004 with "Festivals" : a few friendly games and signing sessions. Among the most recent attempts of reviving the league, the Women's Soccer Initiative, Inc (WSII) seems to be stalling. |
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| MLS franchises |
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| MLS All Star game : MLS AS 4-1 Fulham (see press release) ASG MVP : Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution) |
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| This site welcomes visitors from all 6 continents |
| San Antonio ready for 2006 says MLS (see press release) San Diego fans fear a relocation for the Earthquakes |
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| Season 2005 |
| Los Angeles Galaxy grabs both the US Open Cup and the MLS Cup titles. Taylor Twellman grabs both All Star Game and MLS Season X MVP crowns. Youri Djorkaeff grabs 10 goals and 7 assists for his rookie year The Hearthquakes and the Wizards could relocate for next season. Houston, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Atlanta and Tulsa among the candidates. |
| Season 2006 |
| Preseason : The San Jose Earthquakes eventualy relocate to Houston as the Houston Dynamos. Up north, the NY/NJ MetroStars become the Red Bull New York, headquartered in Secaucus, NJ. AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group) still own D.C. United, the Chicago Fire, the L.A. Galaxy and the new Houston Dynamos. They sold the MetroStars to Red Bull Company Limited (energy drinks, also owners of Red Bull Salzburg in Austria) and reverted the rights to a second team in the NYC area to the MLS, which intends to launch a rival team by 2010. Red Bull paid $100M and get a share in the club's future stadium in Harrison, NJ, including the naming rights (guess the name... opening in 2008). Alexi Lalas and Mo Johnston remain GM and coach of the Red Bull. 2006 Calendar : April 2 : season opening June 9 - July 9 : World Cup (USA finished 3rd in their Group, Bruce Arena joins the NY Red Bull franchise as head coach) July 27 : Sierra Mist All-Star Game : MLS - Chelsea 1-0 (De Rosario MVP, scores the only goal) November 12 : MLS Cup 2006 in Frisco, TX (Houston Dynamo d. NE Rev 1-1 4-3 pk) |
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| TORONTO FC (Toronto - Ontario, Canada) MLS from 2007 on Web : toronto.fc.mlsnet.com Stadium : Toronto National Soccer Stadium (under construction, naming under way - 20,000 seats) |
| SOUTH DIVISION Ajax of Southern California Denver Diamonds Las Vegas Tabagators San Diego WFC SWC Houston Stars |
| NORTH DIVISION California Storm Central California Gold East Bay Power Elk Grove Pride Northern California Blues San Francisco Nighthawks Utah Spiders |
| EAST DIVISION Maryland Pride Massachussets Stingers New England Mutiny Rhode Island Rays Rochester Reign Steel City Sparks |
| WPSL TEAMS |
| THE 8 WUSA TEAMS (2001-2003) |
| - Atlanta Beat - Boston Breakers - Carolina Courage - New York Power - Philadelphia Charge - San Diego Spirit - San Jose CyberRays - Washington Freedom |
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| MVP 1996 Carlos Valderrama 1997 Carlos Valderrama 1998 Brian McBride 1999 Preki 2000 Mamadou Diallo 2001 Landon Donovan 2002 Marco Etcheverry |
| Season 2007 |
| Canada enters MLS through Toronto. The new franchise picked one player from 10 other teams. Sign o' the times : 30 years ago, Pele would try to boost soccer in the US via the East Coast. Today, David Beckam trys to boost his Hollywood carrier via the West Coast. Good for the MLS? |